396 A Plea for Sea Fisheries. CHAPT. XXVI. 



modes of fishing were destroying our fisheries. The Commissioners 

 have heaped up a mass of incontestable evidence to the contrary. 

 Briefly their conclusion may he summed up in their own words : 

 " This return shows, in 1863, an increase of 11 per cent, over 1862 ; 

 " and in 1804 of 12 per cent, over 1863. It is particularly interest- 

 " ing as hearing upon the alleged i'alling-oif of the take of fish on 

 " the Eastern Coast of England, where, instead of a decline, there 

 "is shown to be an annual increase exceeding L0,000 tons." 



70. But fish decay, I am told, and will not bear carriage in this 

 tropical clime. This difficulty can be remedied by salt in India, as 

 it is by ice in England. The question is further discussed in 

 remarks on fish curing in connection with the experimental farm 

 proposed. 



71. Again, I may be reminded that there are already fishermen 

 in India, and that their takes are considerable. May be they are, 

 but comparatively they are perfectly insignificant, grains or ounces 

 against tons. It would take too long to examine in detail their 

 means of capturing. It will suffice to say thai, as tar as I am 

 aware, they do not even know what a trawl net is ; their neaj 

 approach to it is very poor; and to speak antithetically our steam 

 launch is represented by their catamaran or raft, formed of four or 

 five logs lashed together. Still they are a hardy race of win mi 

 much might be made to the advantage both of themselves and their 

 neighbours. 



72. In the above remarks I trust the fifteen propositions set 

 forth at the commencement have been supported. 



73. Time and space forbid me tn dwell on the profits to the 

 fishermen, and especially to the capitalists. It would be premature 

 to dwell on the details of the measures to be adopted. It is also 

 too large a subject to be worked out in the scraps of time toil- 

 somely saved from the pressure of current duties, which same 

 want of time is submitted as an apology for the shortcomings of this 

 paper. Suffice it here to say that undivided, consecutive, untiring 

 attention and study will need to lie given to the subject, if practical 

 useful results are to be expected for the benefit of our fellow 

 creatures: a fitful policy of general interestedness can produce no 

 fruits. This, however, is no more than I had the honour of 

 pointing out more than ten years ago. It is earnestly hoped that 

 the present famine may suffice to induce the Government to take 



